Tuition and Fees

Paying your bill online is easy with Cashnet! You can make payments, view billing statements, access your payment history, and add authorized payers.

Please visit www.sva.edu/paybill to access Cashnet, and view your other payment options.

The billing cycle for registered students starts in mid-June or early July for fall semester students; early-November for spring semester students; and mid-April for summer students. Continuous billing statements are sent on or before the fifteenth of the month for active students with a prearranged payment plan

All payments are to be made in U.S. dollars drawn on a U.S. bank. SVA does not accept checks drawn on a foreign bank or a foreign branch of a domestic bank. An additional fee of $75 plus any other balance incurred for the conversion of foreign currency to U.S. funds will be charged for processing money orders or bank checks drawn on a foreign bank or a foreign branch of a domestic bank. To avoid the processing fee, payments from foreign banks may be made by wire transfer.

The Office of Student Accounts will impose a late charge if any part of the semester bill is not paid when due.

No degrees will be conferred and no certificates of attendance or transcripts will be furnished until all bills due to the School of Visual Arts are paid in full.

Policy information about refunds and withdrawal for non-payment can be found here.

Because your college education is an investment worth protecting, we have partnered with GradGuard to offer tuition insurance to our students and families as a financial safeguard.

The Tuition Protection Insurance Plan helps students and their families overcome the financial losses that may result from events that force students to withdraw from the semester due to a covered medical reason. Helping families get the most out of their SVA experience is always our top priority.

This coverage expands the scope of our existing refund policy by ensuring reimbursement for tuition, housing, and other payments if a student withdraws for any covered medical reason at any time during the semester.

The deadline to enroll is the day before classes begin each semester.

Learn more about selecting this optional tuition insurance from GradGuard by calling 1.866.724.4384 or visiting www.gradguard.com/tuition/sva.

If you are expecting a refund this semester, we highly recommend that you sign up for ACH-Refunds.

You will avoid the delay of waiting for a paper check and won't have to worry about it going to the wrong address. Your refund will be deposited directly into your US bank account.

Follow these three easy steps to sign up now!

1. Log into myid.sva.edu and click on MyServices

2. Click Banking Information

3. Click Add an Account and add your ACH details

Please note that you should add your US bank account information, not credit card information. 

Summer 2021 Tuition: $7,620 USD

Health Insurance

Please contact Health Services at sva.edu/health with any questions regarding summer 2021 health insurance. 

How To Pay

You will find all necessary payment information, accepted payment methods, online payment information and wire transfer account information here.

Please note, if you are planning on paying online for your summer program, you MUST use the second link for Online Payment, as it does not require you to log in. You will be able to use the Student Access link for your fall semester and all future semesters. 

Payment Confirmation

You will receive an email in your SVA email account when your payment has been received. Please allow 3-5 days processing time for payment confirmation to be sent.

You were provided with information on how to access your MySVA email account in your "What's Next" packets provided by the Office of Admissions. Please refer to those directions if you need help accessing your email account.

Online Billing

You will not be able to set up an online billing account until you are registered for your fall semester. Until that occurs, the only online payment site you can use is the one that does not require a login, entitled Online Payment. 

After you have arrived for your summer program and have been registered for the fall semester, Student Accounts will generate a fall billing statement and upload it for online viewing at www.sva.edu/paybill. Once we have uploaded your bill, you can create a new user account to view this bill as well as future bills online.

Further information on the program can be found here.

Please make sure your address on file with SVA is up to date and accurate! You need to make sure that your bills are going to the correct address, that any refunds you may receive in the future go to the right address, as well as tax information and any other school correspondence. You can create a billing address, a local address, a home address and a refund address. 

All address queries, updates and changes need to be made with the Registrar. You may contact them at registrar@sva.edu or access the Address Change Request Form in the Downloads section of the Registrar’s page on this site.

Please make sure to keep your addresses updated if you relocate.

Once an offer of admission has been extended, applicants must submit a nonrefundable enrollment fee to the Office of Admissions in order to secure a space in their intended program of study. Enrollment fees will be processed only as space remains available in each department.

The Undergraduate enrollment fee is $500.

The Graduate enrollment fee is $1,000. ($500 of this fee will be applied to the first semester’s tuition.)

All students will be charged the health insurance fee for the fall and spring semesters. See further information below. (Exceptions are the fall and spring semesters for Visual Narrative.)

For Art Practice and Visual Narrative summer Graduate semesters, there is a summer

insurance fee charged for the first summer semester.

Students are automatically enrolled in the SVA-sponsored accident and sickness insurance and billed the Health Insurance Fee. (Health insurance is waivable at www.sva.edu/uhp.)

Students who want to remove this charge must have sufficient insurance coverage and waive the fee online before the applicable deadline. For more information about the insurance, deadlines and waiving the fee, go to www.sva.edu/uhp or contact Health and Counseling Services at SVA, www.sva.edu/health.

For students in the Honors Program, some Honors courses can be taken at no additional cost. For special pricing of Honors credits above 15 credits, please see the Registration book. 

SVA housing costs in one of the College’s residences range from $16,600 to $19,950 for the 2021-2022 academic year. Housing room rates are based on room size and type.

Should an offer of admission be extended, the nonrefundable enrollment fee and a $400 nonrefundable housing placement fee must be submitted to the Office of Admissions.

New students will be placed in housing on a first-come, first-served basis and based on availability of options. For more information, visit the Residence Life page.

Prices for the 2021-2022 academic year are below:

Students may choose to pay the annual cost of tuition and fees in 10 monthly installments, 5 installments per semester. The agreement is for the fall and spring semesters and payments begin on August 1 and end on May 1. Students will be asked to sign the Payment Plan Application and Agreement Form. SVA offers this option free of any interest or finance charge. There is a $200 processing fee for participating in the plan. A $50 late fee will be assessed each month that payment is not received by the installment due date. 

SVA will consider all financial awards when calculating the payment plan, thereby reducing the amount of the monthly installment.

Please note: International students are eligible for the payment plan only after they have attended at least one full-time semester at SVA as a student and paid tuition in full.

The Payment Plan Application and Agreement form can be found on the Forms tab of the Billing and Payment web pages here.

2021-22 Undergraduate:

Students registered for more than 15 credits per semester (16 credits per semester for BFA Visual and Critical Studies) will be billed for each additional credit at $1,505 per credit. 

In the spring semester of their sophomore year, Interior Design majors may take up to 16 credits at the base tuition rate.

Tuition for more than 15 credits is fully refundable during the drop/add period. After the course adjustment periods, refunds for extra credit tuition charges will be prorated based on the institutional refund policy.

2021-22 Graduate:

Students registered for less than 12 credits or more than 15 credits per semester for Graduate courses (16 credits for Design Research, Writing and Criticism fall semesters) will be billed at the rate of $1,680 per credit ($1,800 for Branding, Design, Interaction Design, Design for Social Innovation, Products of Design; $1,680 for Social Documentary Film).

Tuition for more than 15 credits (16 credits for Design Research, Writing and Criticism fall semesters) is fully refundable during the course adjustment period. After the course adjustment periods, refunds for extra credit tuition charges will be prorated based on the institutional refund policy.

NOTE: Graduate students may audit one undergraduate or one continuing education course each semester that they are enrolled as matriculated and full-time students. All applicable course fees will be charged. Courses open to auditing are subject to availability.

**

2020-21 Undergraduate:

Students registered for more than 15 credits per semester (16 credits per semester for BFA Visual and Critical Studies) will be billed for each additional credit at $1,450 per credit. 

In the spring semester of their sophomore year, Interior Design majors may take up to 16 credits at the base tuition rate.

Tuition for more than 15 credits is fully refundable during the drop/add period. After the course adjustment periods, refunds for extra credit tuition charges will be prorated based on the institutional refund policy.

2020-21 Graduate:

Students registered for less than 12 credits or more than 15 credits per semester for Graduate courses (16 credits for Art Writing and for Design Research, Writing and Criticism fall semesters) will be billed at the rate of $1,620 per credit ($1,735 for Branding, Design, Interaction Design, Design for Social Innovation, Products of Design; $1,620 for Social Documentary Film).

Tuition for more than 15 credits (16 credits for Art Writing and for Design Research, Writing and Criticism fall semesters) is fully refundable during the course adjustment period. After the course adjustment periods, refunds for extra credit tuition charges will be prorated based on the institutional refund policy.

NOTE: Graduate students may audit one undergraduate or one continuing education course each semester that they are enrolled as matriculated and full-time students. All applicable course fees will be charged. Courses open to auditing are subject to availability.

Students must purchase their own supplies necessary for their courses. Full-time students should budget between $1,050 and $3,150 for art supplies each year.

The School of Visual Arts proudly welcomes veteran students to our campus.

Information on Veteran's education benefits can be found on the Registrar's website here.

Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018

In accordance with the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, Title 38, Section 3679(e), students who are entitled to educational assistance under Chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, or Chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, will not incur any penalty (including the assessment of late fees or denial of access to classes or institutional facilities, or be required to borrow additional funds) because of their inability to meet their financial obligations to SVA due to the delayed disbursement of funding from the Department of Veteran Affairs under chapter 31 or 33.

Change to Veteran's Affairs Debt Repayment and Refunds

Under Public Law 116-315 Section 1019. As of 1/5/2021, outstanding Veteran Affairs benefit balances from tuition/fees, or Yellow Ribbon will be collected from the college. 

In turn, the college may require you to pay any outstanding debts resulting from changes to your schedule.

Book/supplies stipend and monthly housing (MHA) debt from VA will be billed directly to the student.

When are bills uploaded?

Students are not billed until they are actually registered. After registration is confirmed, the beginning of the billing cycle starts in mid-June or early July for fall semester students; early-November for spring semester students; and mid-April for summer students. Continuous billing statements are uploaded on or before the fifteenth of the month for active students with a prearranged payment plan.

What if I can't find my bill or did not receive a bill before it is time to pay?

View your bill online. If the address on the bill online is not correct, contact the Office of the Registrar to correct your address. Just remember that payment deadlines are neither extended nor suspended because you can't find or didn't receive a bill.

When is the tuition due date?

The fall semester due date is August 1

The spring semester due date is December 1

The summer semester due date is May 1

If a student is registering after the semester's tuition due date, but before the beginning of classes, then tuition is due prior to being given registration clearance.

Will tuition payment extensions be considered if I cannot meet the deadline?

If you require an extension beyond the tuition deadline, you can email the Office of Student Accounts at studentaccounts@sva.edu to request an extension for review and consideration.

How can payment be made?

By personal check, bank check or money order drawn on a US bank in US funds made payable to SVA, wire transfer, or by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover Card or JCB International card. Students should always include their ID number on the check or money order to properly credit their account. Please do not send post-dated checks. They will be deposited upon receipt. Double endorsed, or third party, checks are not accepted.

Please be aware that there is a $20 fee for all returned checks, plus any late fees that may apply. All returns are redeposited. Any student with multiple returns may no longer be allowed to pay by personal check.

You can also pay your bill online. The School of Visual Arts, in conjunction with Cashnet, has a secure web-based service that allows students and parents to receive and pay their college bills online. 

How can I pay by wire transfer?

You will need the following information to send a wire transfer to SVA to pay for your tuition. Please allow 2-3 business days for processing.

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. 

420 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

Attn: Operations Manager

For the account of School of Visual Arts

Account Number: 4121919880

ABA Number: 121000248

Swift code: WFBIUS6S

Be sure to indicate the student's SVA ID number.

What is the SVA Payment Plan?

Students may choose to pay annual tuition charges in 10 monthly installments; 5 installments per semester. The agreement is for the fall and spring semesters and payments begin on August 1 and end on May 1. Students will be asked to sign the Payment Plan Application and Agreement form. SVA offers this option free of any interest or finance charge. There is a $200 processing fee for participating in the plan. SVA will consider all approved financial aid awards when calculating the payment plan, thereby reducing the amount of the monthly installment.

International students are only eligible for the payment plan after they have attended at least one full-time semester at SVA and paid the tuition on time and in full.

Provided your previous semester balance is paid in full, your payment record with SVA has not been in default and you are not an international student in his/her first year, you may fill out the Payment Plan Application and Agreement and send it to us for review. You will find the form on the right-hand side of this page.

If my parents (company, grandparents, spouse, godfather) are paying my bill, why don't you send it to them?

According to federal law (FERPA-the Buckley Amendment) a college student's record, including student account records and bill, are the student's property and responsibility. You must give us a written approval requesting that all bills are to be sent to your designated billing address. Just remember that when you are accepted to the College, your first agreement is between you and the College. We agree to provide instructional services and by you accepting your enrollment you are agreeing to pay for it. Your other agreement is between you and the person(s) promising to make payment. Even if you send us a written approval of a designated person or billing address, the bill will be sent to your attention in care of the assigned billing address. You are still solely responsible for any payments due to the College and solely responsible for making sure that all payments are made when due by whomever you assign to pay your tuition.

My parents are divorced and their agreement says that my father and/or mother is/are obligated to pay for my college education. If they or I send you a copy of the court agreement, will you send them the bill?

Such terms in a divorce do not constitute payment arrangements for your College bill. This is a private matter between your parents and has nothing to do with the College. The bill will be sent to your attention in care of the assigned billing address. You are solely responsible for any payments due to the College and solely responsible for making sure that all payments are made when due by whoever has been assigned to pay your tuition.

Part of my bill will be paid by me and the other part will be paid by an assigned billing address. Can you send two different bills? No. Only one bill for the total amount due will be sent to an assigned billing address. You are solely responsible for all payments due to the College.

My employer has a tuition reimbursement plan. Can I defer payment until I get reimbursed?

No. Tuition reimbursement means they will pay you back for whatever tuition you paid. Most of these plans require that the student complete the course with a required grade. Such agreements are between the employee and the employer. Remember, you are solely responsible for all payments due to the College.

What if I haven't heard from the financial aid office and don't know how much I will be getting in loans and other aid?

If you are a current student at the College and have received full aid in the past, you may be able to defer your bill based on previous aid history. Contact the Office of Student Accounts for a deferral. If you are a new student with no previous record of financial aid at the College, you will be expected to pay your total semester bill upfront or sign up for a payment plan.

I have moved recently. What should I do to update my address?

You can update your address by contacting the Registrar’s office at 212.592.2200 or via email at registrar@sva.edu. You can also access the Address Change Request Form in the Downloads section of the Registrar’s page on this site.

What if I change my mind after I registered and decided not to go to school for the semester?

You must officially file a withdrawal with your advisor in writing or in person in order to cancel your registration. If you fail to do so, you will remain registered and will have full liability for your charges, even if you have not attended a single class.

What happens to my enrollment fee if I decide not to register?

The nonrefundable enrollment fee is required of all prospective students after their acceptance for admission. It serves as your guarantee to the College of your intention to register and enroll and our guarantee to make sure we reserve a place for you.

What if I decide to postpone my enrollment to a later semester after my acceptance. Do I need to pay another enrollment fee?

Your enrollment fee will be deferred up to one semester from the day you were accepted. You must make a special request from the director of admissions if you wish to postpone your enrollment to a later semester.

If I stop attending one of my classes, will I be dropped?

No. Once you are officially registered, you will remain registered unless you take action to withdraw. You will probably get a failing grade, but you will still have to pay for the course.

Will I get charged for dropping a class?

There is no penalty or liability for any course adjustment completed during the course adjustment period. The course adjustment period is typically held during the first two weeks of the fall and spring semesters. You can find the specific dates for each semester's course adjustment period listed in the academic calendar.

However, if you drop any course after the course adjustment period is over, you will be charged for the percentage of tuition for which you are liable. The only exception being if you stay within full-time tuition (12-15 credits for most programs). The percentages of liability for course adjustment after the course adjustment period are the same as the percentages of liability upon withdrawal. See below for those percentages.

Please note: There is a $100 late course adjustment fee charged to all students who add any courses after the course adjustment period has ended.

Will I get a refund if I withdraw from SVA?

The enrollment fee is nonrefundable. The health insurance fee is refundable only if withdrawal occurs prior to the applicable semester waiver deadline. The waiver deadline is located on the Student Health and Counseling Services webpage.

Students who wish to withdraw from SVA must notify their academic advisor in writing. Written approval from a parent or guardian must be included if the student is under 18 years of age. The effective date of the withdrawal is the date written notification is received by the academic advisor. Lack of attendance alone does not entitle a student to a refund.

Refunds, less the nonrefundable enrollment fee and health insurance fee (if applicable), are made after the prorated percentages of liability are applied, unless superseded by an existing state or accrediting agency refund policy. Upon withdrawal from the semester, SVA does not charge any department or course fees. However, payment plan fees, late fees and any other administrative fees are not prorated. Only tuition and housing costs are prorated. Prorated housing costs are based on the check out date, not the official date of withdrawal. Find more additional information regarding refunds here.

Where will my refund be sent?

If you are expecting a refund check, upon course adjustment or an overage created by financial aid, we highly recommend that you sign up for ACH-Refunds so that your refund can be deposited directly into the bank account of your choosing (US bank accounts only). This option means no worrying over the address on file, or waiting for a check in the mail. You will receive an email notifying you when your E-Refund has been issued. 

Follow these three easy steps to sign up now!

1. Log into myid.sva.edu and click on MyServices

2. Click Banking Information

3. Click Add an Account and add your ACH details

Please note: ACH-Refunds are only available for student refunds, not parent loan refunds. 

If you choose not to sign up for ACH-Refunds, your refund check will be mailed to the address you have designated as your Refund Address. If you have no designated Refund Address, your refund check will automatically be sent to your local address. If you have no local address, the preferred address listed in our database will be where the check will be sent.

All address queries, updates and changes need to be made with the Registrar. You may contact them at registrar@sva.edu or access the Address Change Request Form in the Downloads section of the Registrar’s page on this site.

Please make sure to keep your addresses updated if you move.

Except in cases of an overage caused by a Parent Loan, a credit card payment, or some scholarships and third party organizations, all refund checks are made payable to the student.